The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared yesterday at Leeds Youth Court, accused of murdering Mrs Maguire at Corpus Christi Catholic College.

He nodded to his parents as he entered the courtroom and answered "yeah" four times in reply to questions.

He was watched by Mrs Maguire's family, including husband Donald and daughters Kerry and Emma.

Mr Maguire, 62, sat at the back of the packed courtroom holding his daughters' hands as the boy stood in the glass-fronted dock.

Later that day the family visited their mother's school, where Mr Maguire added a bunch of flowers to the sea of tributes, which has been growing for days and now stretches 100 yards from the school's entrance to the gates of neighbouring Corpus Christi Church.

They then spent around half an hour in the church where they prayed and were comforted by Deacon Sean Quigley.

Deacon Quigley said: "I told them that they are surrounded by a sea of love, but that is not such a tremendous comfort at the present time."

Mrs Maguire's family released a statement through police, which read: "Our beautiful Ann, our shining light, she brightened the world for so many of us.

"A loving wife, the best mother, a treasured sister, a true friend. This horrific happening has robbed us of all of this and so much more. We are devastated. Her selfless, genuine, caring nature will remain with us eternally.

"We are overwhelmed by the support, sympathy and kind tributes we have received. They have been a source of great comfort at this dark time.

"We would ask the media to kindly respect the privacy of family and friends in the coming weeks and months.

"Ann, we will love you always, your loving family."

Mrs Maguire had taught at the school for over 40 years and was set to retire [PA]

Tributes have flooded in for Mrs Maguire from pupils, teachers and parents, as well as Prime Minister David Cameron, opposition leader Ed Miliband and even the Pope.

The Spanish teacher from the Moortown area of Leeds, was just months away from retiring after more than 40 years service at the 950-pupil school.

Mrs Maguire also raised her nephews Andrew and Daniel after the death of her sister, Eileen Poole, from cancer.